In May, after 14 years at Microsoft, Deborah Hendersen, a user researcher in the Xbox division, sensed her time at the company might be nearing an end. With approximately 6,000 employees laid off that month, including colleagues on partner teams, Hendersen grew anxious that her group could be next. Rumors of further layoffs swirled, becoming what she called the "worst-kept secret." The 45-year-old Seattle resident likened the experience to being in a car headed for an inevitable crash, powerless to avoid it.
On July 2, her fears materialized when she was among roughly 9,000 employees cut in a companywide reduction. Hendersen had survived previous layoffs, but the lack of transparency about who was affected—attributed to privacy concerns—left remaining employees unsettled, guessing which colleagues had vanished. "It’s just very uncomfortable not knowing who’s been impacted," she said.
Determined to handle her layoff differently, Hendersen chose openness over secrecy. As soon as she received a suspicious meeting invite signaling bad news, she began drafting messages to share internally and on LinkedIn. This transparency not only garnered emotional support but also paved the way for a new role at Meta just two months later.
Hendersen is one of thousands of Microsoft employees laid off over the past year. A Microsoft spokesperson noted the cuts focused on flattening management and streamlining processes, though individual contributors like Hendersen were also affected. The tech industry as a whole has seen similar trends, with companies like Google, Amazon, and Intel announcing layoffs. Despite historically low layoff rates, tech workers face a tough job market with slowed white-collar hiring.
Building a Support Network
Within an hour of her layoff, Hendersen posted about it on LinkedIn and messaged colleagues to confirm who else was affected. She created a Microsoft Teams group chat for laid-off employees, which grew to over a dozen members. The group became a vital support hub, where they shared advice on unemployment benefits, deciphered HR materials, and leaned on each other. "I’d have preferred to be the only one laid off," Hendersen said, "but building that community was incredibly helpful."
Before losing access to internal systems, the group migrated to Discord, where they continued exchanging job leads, interview tips, and emotional support. This network became a lifeline, helping members navigate the highs and lows of their job searches.
Financial Preparation
Anticipating the possibility of a layoff, Hendersen and her husband sold stock holdings to bolster their cash reserves. After the layoff, she learned she’d receive paychecks through late August, followed by a lump-sum severance based on her tenure. The couple reviewed their budget, calculated how long their savings would last, and identified expenses to cut. "There was a stunning sense of anxiety," she admitted, underscoring the stress of financial uncertainty.
Landing a Job Without Applying
Hendersen planned to take time to decompress before job hunting, as her résumé hadn’t been updated in 15 years, and she lacked prepared interview stories or cover letters. However, her LinkedIn post triggered an outpouring of support. Friends and former colleagues reached out with job opportunities, leading to informal discussions about potential roles. "It was like an ocean of warm hugs and kindness," she said.
Relying on her network, Hendersen largely bypassed traditional job applications, estimating she formally applied to just one role. Typically, she shared her résumé with a contact who referred her to a recruiter, or she directly contacted recruiters about openings. One such opportunity was a user experience researcher role at Meta’s Reality Labs division in Seattle, recommended by a connection. The position aligned closely with her Microsoft work, where she studied how players interacted with games in development. After a referral and interviews, she received an offer in late August and started in October.
Lessons from the Journey
Henderson’s experience offered key insights for navigating a layoff. She emphasized the value of preparing a collection of career stories for interviews, noting, "You’ve done amazing things, but can you recall them in the moment? That’s so hard." She also advised practicing how to share these stories with people outside your field, as her Meta interviewers weren’t all from the gaming industry, requiring her to adapt her explanations.
Her biggest takeaway was the power of community. "Having the support of others going through it—both the highs and lows—is so helpful," she said. "Everyone gets turned down, gets their hopes up, and is just figuring out how to stay sane in a challenging time."
By embracing transparency, leveraging her network, and building a community of support, Hendersen turned a difficult layoff into an opportunity, landing a new role at Meta and offering a roadmap for others facing similar challenges.